The bird blind at Conference House Park, more visible above in 2011, is now surrounded by tall weeds, some 10 feet high, and a muddy trail. A Parks Department spokeswoman says repairs are under way; it has been closed to the public for about two years.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - TOTTENVILLE - The city Parks Department is in the process of making repairs to the damaged bird blind and a destroyed walkway bordering the beach in Conference House Park.

The bird-watching site and gravel trail that wrapped around it were hit hard by a March 2010 nor'easter that struck the site and the rest of Staten Island with high-powered winds and heavy rain.

The affected location is near the shoreline within the 265-acre park in Tottenville.

The Advance recently visited the location and found that the bird blind's shed-like structure had been removed, but the once-damaged deck had seen some repairs. The Parks Department confirmed work is under way.

"We reinstalled the decking and in the next few weeks we're going to be working to reconstruct the pathway leading to the bird blind," said Parks spokeswoman Tara Kiernan. Ms. Kiernan said some invasive plants from the area will be removed.

The bird blind at Conference House Park now surrounded by tall weeds, some 10 feet high, and a muddy trail.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

Right now, the trail is full of debris, mud and rocks. Weeds – some 10-feet-high – border the bird blind, which was closed in summer 2010.

Tottenville resident Guy Mangogna often visits the area, which he claims has been "disregarded for years."

When told of the planned changes, he seemed relieved, but said more needs to be done to prevent further erosion.

He recommends that big rocks be positioned along the shoreline to protect against future damage.

"If the water comes in, it'll keep the beach in place and let the water run back out," said Mangogna, a resident of the neighborhood for 15 years. "If there's nothing there, it'll just keep eroding."

Visitors have previously described the location as one of the most beautiful parts of the South Shore park.